Chronometric radiosconde system



Filed Aug.' 2s. 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTR. JOSEPH A. SIDERMAN Lgf/:W Q). /JWUL m v M wml.

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ATTORN EY` Yti-,csucec being ocnuousd Patented ugff?, 1945 's onine ici, rxr-zsm irantell um the c woed'orli dit The invention herein may hemanu- -fsctured and used by or furthe Government for governmental without the payment to me of any rosalie thereon.

The present invention pensino-broadly to re.- diosonde apparatus for the measurement of me` teoroiogical conditions throush various levels of tlm a and radio o! the measurementsror recordins et aireceivins ststion. More particularly the invention relates to auch apparatus of the chronosnetric lerne intended to be carried by a balloon tor the determina. non of the pressure. temperature. and humidity values or conditions of the atmosphere. and tor 'the radio transmission of the seme to a ground station equipped with receiving and recording ehpretusv Known rsdiosondc systems can ho roushly dif vided into two mejor categories, namely. those which transmit a radio cr eudic frequency that is variable with the podtion of the meteorological elements. and those transmitting radio signals spaced in time, the velues oi' the meteorological elements being deduced from the intervals between signals.

In the irst mentioned class, that is. apparatus transmitting ileriable frequencies, one form thereof introduoeereelstsnce into the circuit o! an eudio frequency generator which modulates the radio transmitter. the velue ot resistancelinby the position or oondition o! hsrometrlc. humidity. and temperature elements. 1n another form of apparatus of this general type, the sensitive elementegovern the position of a. variable tunins condenser ln an oscillatory circuit. and the resultant variations in radio frequency from a predetermined reference value provide the index to the measurements.

In the second mentioned class. that is, o! the time interval or chrunometrlc time. one form of apparatus employs a multi-contact rotary switch performing as e key in a radio frequency transmitter circuit. said rotary switch comprising en erm carrying en electrical contact rotated by means of a motor et auniform speed. in coopera; tion with three adjustable contacts spaced at various points inthe circuler path ofthe rotating contact and so arranged that the rotating contact touches each of them for a momentonoe in'each revoiuidcn. Each adjustable contact is mechanically linked to respective haromctric. temperature, land humidity elements in a menner whereby the position of the contact is shifted in accordance with the meteorological condition est ot 1.958:

--corrsspon Meteorolo cel insirmnents employed in con umn a. isst. u sie o. c. 1m

measured. Thus. hi the course ot a complete switching revolution, thetransmitter is keyed at intervslsdeterminedhythepeeitionottnesdbistable contacts and with 'successive revolutions of the switch, new points o! contact are made to meteorolceical chances.

Junction with radicsonde apparatus have. in moet ceses, been ci conventional dcsisn adapted to function cooperatively with the electrics] circuit.- For example. where an aneroid cell is utilined for measuring atmospheric pressure in a varieble frequency radiosonde system. mechanice! linkage from theaneroid bellows to the slider arm of a variable resistor is provided, thereby converting the cell movements into corresponding variations oi' resistance. which ln turn eifeot frequency variations in the radlosonde circuit. When applied to e chronometric radioeonde system, the eneroid bellows, hy means oi' mechanical coupling, serve to displace the position of an sd- .lustable contact in the rotary switch keying the tranmnitter. thereby making the interval of signel tron e function pt atmosphellc pressure. In u like manner, e iai-metallic tempereture element is incorporated ina rediosonde circuit lby mechanically linking the element either to the slider arm of a variable resistor or en sd- Justoble rotary' switch contact. The hair hygrometer is adopted for rediosonde humidity measurement purposes hy connecting it through levers to either thesllder arm of e variable resistor or the adjustable contact ot ai rotary switch depending upon which system is used.

In recent years, elemente have been developed which directly convert'the atmospheric measure- 'ments into corresponding resistance changes' without requiring intermediate mechanical linkagee. Ceramic resistors. for exemple. have been devised whose resistance' value is a function of -ambient temperature. These resistance elementa have, in many instances. successfully supplanted himetal1ic elements previously in use -because of their accuracy, comparative simplicily, and freedom from mechanical difilculties.

tor 25l the combination being connected between plate and grid of triotlev I in series with a filled capacitor 2l. A grid leak 20 is connected between grid and iilament of triode i0. Filament voltage for both triodes i9 and li is provided by A" battery 29, and plate voltage is provided by 13" battery 3G. The positive terminal of battery 30 is connected serially with switch 23 and a radio frequency choke 3| to a tap on Inductor 25. It

will be seen that when switch 23 is closed, voltage is applied to the plate of triode I0 causing a signal to be emitted by the radiosonde transmittel'.

The positive terminal of battery 30 is also connected to the plate of trode through the coil of an electromagnetic relay 32. The armature contacts of relay 32 are connected in series with switch 24 across the terminals ol' switch 2i. Thus in 4order for relay 22 to key the transmitter. switch 24 must be closed. The intensity of current flow through the plate circuit of triode Il, ln the absence of bias on the grid thereof. is sufficient to energize relay 22 thereby closing its armature contacts. The contacts of relay 32 will remain closed until a bias is applied to the grid ol triocle il of a. magnitude limitingcurrent now therein to a level lnsuillclent to energize the relay.

Connected between illament and grid of triode Il is a capacitor 32. A "C" battery 34 ls provided connected between filament and grid oi trlode Il through switch 20. One end of temperature clement l2 is connected to the grid of triode il. the other end being connected to filament through switch'i'i. One cnd of humidity element i3 is connected to the grid of trlode Il, the other end being connected to filament through switch 22.

To facilitate explanation in correlating the operation o! cams I4 to iB. letters A to Ci have been assigned to various points on the periphery of each cam, identical letters designating identically disposed points. It will be assumed that cams I4 to I8 revolve in a counterclockwise dlrec tion with the speed of one revolution per l5-sec onds, the angular velocity, therefore. being 24- per second.

The effect of a complete cam switching cycle upon radio transmission will be best understood by referring to Figure 2A illustrating. along a time scale graduated from 0 to 15 secondsl the interval and duration of each signal transmission. Starting from point A at zero time setting. a sharp indent formed on cern I4 closes switch and a sharp indent on cam i1 closes switch 23. The operation of switch 23 applies a plate voltage to triode l0 causing a reference signal' to be transmitted as shown by pulse ln Figure 2A. The closing of switch 2li connects battery 34 across condenser 33 immediately charging same.'

The charge on condenser 33 imposes a negative bles on the grid of triode Il of a magnitude ren dering said tube nonconductive and releasing the armature c! relay 32 in the plate circuit thereof.

Continuing in counterclockwse motion for live seconds between points A and B. on cams l5 and i8 extended indents are formed causing switches 2| and 24 to operate during the entire 120 oi cam travel between these points. The operation ol switch 2l shunts temperature elcment l2 cross condenser J3 and the operation nl switch 2l connects `the armature contacts o! relay 32 across the terminals oi' switch 23. At point A the armature contacts or relay 32 are open because o! thc cutoii bias imposed on the grld @i Lriode llI but as condenser 33 proceeds to discharge through' element l2 in the interval ci travel between points A and B, the bias on trlodc ii is diminished to a level where relay 32 is again energized. thereby applying plate voltage to triade l0 through switch 2l and causing a signal to be emitted. Since point B is spaced from point A. the transmission of the ternperature signal can' occur within a. five second interval at a particular instant determined by the ohxnic value of temperature element l2. For

purposes of illustration. it will be assumed that relay 32 is energized 3.5 seconds, or frcm point A as shown by pulse It in Figure 2A and inasmuch as the armature contacts of relay 3.2 remain connected ln the plate circuit of trlode I0 for live seconds, the transmitter remains op'- erative for 1.5 seconds thereafter.

As the cams travel 36 in a second and one-half from point B to C, at point C only switch 23 ls op? erated by a sharp indent formed on cam l1 caus-t lng a reference signal 31 to be transmitted as' shown in Flgure2B. Continuing 24 in one second from point C to D at point D a sharp indent formed ln cam I1 operates switch -22 causing a reierence signal 33 to be transmitted and an indent. formed on cam I1 operates switch 2li thereby recharging condenser 33.

The bias applied by condenser 33 to the grid oi triode il renders the tube nonconductlve causing relay 32 to release its armature contacts.v Moving for 2 seconds from point D to point E spaced 48 thereirom, extended indents are formed on cams I6 and Il between these points causing switches 22 and 24 to operate. Switch 22 'shunts humidity element I3 across condenser 33 while switch 24 connects the armature contacts of relay S2 across the terminals of switch 23. The charge on condenser 83 is dissipated by humidity element i3 to a level permitting relay 32 to operate. thereby applying plate voltage to trlode lll resulting in signal transmission. Since the distance between points D and E is 48. or tw'o seconds. the humidity transmission can occur between 7.5 and 9.5 seconds of the switching cycle. and lor purposes of illustration herein it will be assumed that the transmission is of one second duration as shown by pulse 39 in Figure 2A.-

Continuing 96" in 4 seconds from point E to F, none of switches 20 to 24 is operated until a sharp indent formed on cam Il' at point F operates switch 23 causing a reference pulse 60 to be transmitted as shown in Figure 2A. Moving 12 in e. half-second from point F' to point G a sharp indent formed on cam il again operates switch 23 causing another' reference pulse 4l to be transmitted as shown inl Figure 2A. And finally. continuing 24 from point G back to point A in one second the switching cycle islcompleted with none of the switches operated between these points.

lt is, ol course. obvious that for a given speed of motor I9. the indent length between points A and B on cams i5 and lil must be adequate in permit temperature element l2 to discharge condenser 13 to a level operating the transmitter at any ohmic value within the working range of the clement. Likewise. the seme condition holds true for humidity element I3 with respect to the lndents on cams i8 and i8 between points D and E Il' it is desired to include a barometric slide wir@ resistance element in the circuit, the unused portion of cams I4 to i8 lving between points E nml point F' may bc indented for this function.

li is to be noted in examining Figure 2A that reference pulse 35 indicates the beginning of the switching cyc1e.reierence pulse 38 marks the midpoint of the switching cycle, and closely spaced reference pulses and Il denote the conclusion of the cycle. These radiosondesignals may he4 received and recorded by any conventional form of time interval recording device which operates yinsynchront-smwiththezuseeciofinotpr l and 'provides an indication at the instant or .leerling edgeof pulse on. For example, referring now to Figure 2B. .a time interval tape record is shown'a's obtained from the radiosonde signals illustrated in Fldure 2A. It will be seen that a dot is' inscribed at the position corresponding with the leading edge of pulses lll to 4l. the-width of the pulse being of no importance. In the event that the4 Speed of the recording motor fails to synchronize with the speed oi1 motor ythis tact will be immediately apparent by ob- Signals.

In order to eliminate the need for synchronizing the speeds ofreccrding motor anti ,or switching motor il in Figure 1."another embodiment of o chrononietric radiosonde system is .shown in Figf ure 3, employing a reference resistor l2 which is insensitive to atmospheric conditions. a ceramic temperature-responsive resistor an electrical hygrometer 44 and a barometric.. pressure element slide-wire resistor l5. The transmitter is of conventional design comprising a trlode 4G in combination with a tank circuit consisting of inductor I1 and variable capacitor IB. The transmitter is keyed Aby an olectromagneticelay l! connected in tlieiplate circuit, of a trlode 5B. Filament voltage for both triodes-IB and ill is provided by A" battery Il. and plate voltage is furnished by B" battery 52. operation of this circuit'is similar to that of Figure 1, trlode 5l) having a capacitor Il connected between grid and iiiament. and the dissipation rate of 4chau-ge on capacitor 5S, as governed by `the various meteorological elements, controlling the now ot current through triode tl, and Ln conf sequence. the operating period ot keying relay I9. By switching the reference resistor l2 across 4condenser 53 once in each cycle, the scale of the posed along the circular path taken by the wiper f arm Ill. Each quadrant A to D of the rotary switch 5l contains two small iixed contacts 5l and 5l and a relatively large fixed contact 59. contacts 6l and 5l being disposed at opposite ends of contact $5 and insulated therefrom. All of contacts 51 are tied together and connected to the positive terminal of battery 55 while all or contacts El are tied together and connected to the grid of trlode 50 as well as the negative terminal of battery Il. Each oi contacts li in quadrants `A to D is connected to one end of In general, the' elements 42 to Il respectively, The other ends of elements 42 to I are tied together and connectedto the sldoi triode B0.

The wiper arm Il is connected to niamait oi triode It so that when imposed over any one of contacts 5T, it 'serves to connect the positive terminal of battery li to the diamant of 'triade whereby applying the full potential of battery lli acros'sccndenser Il. W'ndnthewiperarm Il isshifted toanyond of contacts ".theresistance element associated therewith. that is. either element Il. il. Il or 4I is shunted across condenser il. And when the wiper arm oi' switch it makes connection with any one of contacts". it eiectively shorts the terminals oi' condenser Il fully discharging saine.

It will yhe assumed, for purposes of illustratio-n` that rotary 5I revolves counter clockwise at a speed of'one revolution per 412 seconds. In order to clarify the vdirect oi rotary switch Il upon radiosonde transmission, reference is had to Figure 4A showing along a time scale graduated from zero to twelve seconds, the interval and duration o! each signal transmission.

Transndtter operation during a complete switching cycle will now be discussedbeginning with the condition existing when Awiper arm I0 is in connecticnwith contact 5l in quadrant A.

Since in this position battery is connected across condenser 53 lthereby biasing triode 5I to cutoioxid releasing the armature of keying relay Il, the transmitter is now inoperaldve. At a very brief interval thereafter. connection is' made between the wiper l0 and contact Bil thereby shunting reference resistor l2 acrosscondenser il which proceeds to discharge therethrough at a rate in accordance with RC coinbihatlon. l

At a point along contact 59 the charge on condenser El is reduced to a. level where relay 4S is energized, thereby keying the transmitter "on." It wlll be assumed that this event occurs alter two seconds from starting time. When wiper 60 connects with contact 8l the residual charge on condenser 5J is removed. completing the quadrant A operation. inasmuch as it takes three seconds to traverse the quadrant, pulse 6I ln Figure 4A is one second in width.

Entering into quadrant B, wiper 00 connects withcontact 5t recharging condenser $3 and again disabling the transmitter. Connection ls then made with contact ll. thereby shunting resistor element I across condenser 52 causing the transmitter again to be keyed "on after condenser 53 is sufficiently discharged. which condition will be assumed to occur alter one and one-hall seconds as shown by pulse U2 1n Figure 4A. Continuing into quadrant C. the same efloct is repeated with resistor 34 being shunted across condenser U3. It will be assumed in this instance that the transmitter is keyed on after two and a half seconds as shown by pulse il in Figure 4A. Finally, in quadrant D element 4S is shunted across charge condenser S3 dissiparing the charge thereon at a rate causngthe transmitter to be keyed on after one second, as shown by pulse BI in Figure 4A.

Referring now to Figure 4B. o. tape recording is shown ol the signals illustrated in Figure 4A. The record in this instance is of the continuous line type, the line being displaced by the reception oi signals while the tape is moved 'at a uniform speed. The width of the' pulses appearing on the tape provide the index tothe meteorological reading. The reference pulse permits correction of ,the reading t an extent determined by its departure from a reference width.

For receiving theradio'sonde signals transmit-4 radiosonde transmitter does not prevent reception of the signals, Furthermore, as the frequency of the transmitter continues to driit, it is easily followed by reason of the broad tuning characteristic; For operating the recording stylus lthe "rush currents of the super regenerative receiver as controlled by the carrier wave of the transmitter may be made to operate a relay provided with both frontl and back contacts, the stylus being electrically controlled for operation either'on a received radio impulse or on the interruption of an otherwise continuous -radio signal.

It is to be understood, however, that the particular type of radio receiver and recording device to be used with the radiosonde transmitter of this invention form no part of the invention.

While there has been described what is at presi ent considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseI skilled in the art that various changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the a'ppended claims, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. The combination'in a chronometric radiosonde system comprising a radio frequency transmitter. keying means for said transmitter, a, plurality of atmospherically-sensitive resistance-elements. a condenser, a source of direct current energy, a rotary switch associated with said energy source. said condenser and said elements in, a manner whereby said condenser is periodically charged by said 'energy and shunted consecutively by each of said elements. means for rotating said-switch at a, uniform speed. andmeans for operating said keying circuit for periods whose durations each commence with maximum condenser charge and end when said condenser is discharged by a particular element to a predetermined level.

2. The combination in a chronometric radiosonde system comprising a radio frequency transmitter, keying means for said transmitter, a plurality oi.' atmosphericaily-sensitive resistance elements, an atmospherically insensitive reference element, a condenser, a source of direct current energy, a rotary switch associated with said energy source'. said condenser and said elements in a manner whereby said condenser is periodically charged by said energy and shunted consecutively by each of said elements, means for rotating said switch at a uniform speed, and means for operating said keying circuit for periods whose dura- Ations each commence with maximum condenser charge and end when said condenser is discharged by a particular element to a predetermined level.

3. The combination in aA chronometric radiosonde system comprising a radio frequency transmitter, keying means for said transmitter, a plu-` rality of atmospherically sensitive resistance elments, a condenser. a source of direct current energy, a rotary switch associated with said energy source, said condenser and said elements in a manner whereby said condenser is periodically charged by said energy and shunted consecutively by. each ot said elements, means i'or rotating said switch at a uniform speed, a thermionic ampiier tube having said keying means operatively associated with the output circuit thereof and said condenser in the input circuit thereof whereby when the condenser is at maximum charge said keying means is inoperative, and when said condenser is discharged to a predetermined levelsaid keying means is operative.

JOSEPH A. SIDERMAN. 

